On the 9th of October, 19-year-old Libby Austin was sworn in for her 4-year term as a councillor on the Penrith City Council.
The teenage Western Sydney University student was listed on the 5th spot of the Labor party’s PCC East Ward ballot. Austin was elected unopposed due to the Liberal party’s failure to nominate any candidates.
‘It is fair to say that I was shocked’ Austin says.
‘However, after I came to terms with what had happened, I am simply excited. I have so many ideas and so much to learn. I just can’t wait to get started.’
Austin has always had a passion for social justice; however, politics wasn’t always on her radar.
‘All throughout high school I was an advocate for social causes. I did debating and public speaking for years. I just never had any direction, nowhere to fully invest all of my passion and ideas,’ she says.
Campaigning during the 2023 state election with Labor candidate Garion Thain sparked her interest in politics.
‘After about a day of campaigning I started to identify the link between policy and social causes, and realised this is the next step for me. Policy is what my ideas can become. So, I decided to fully commit and join the Labor Party,’ Austin said.
Austin was raised by a single income family of 7 in Badgerys Creek.
‘I never grew up discussing politics at the dinner table, but I did in a sense grow up Labor. I grew up a unionist. My parents, though they never acted on it, are activists. My dad is a bus driver and a member of his union,’ Austin says.
She says her upbringing gave way to a natural progression into the Labor party. ‘My parents would listen to my speeches about injustice and social cohesion and give me tips and pointers…It was a natural transition for me to join the party. My ideas and values aligned with the Labor party’.
Austin is very clear that her age doesn’t inhibit her, it empowers her. ‘There is absolutely nothing that makes me any less qualified for this position. But yet some will claim that my age is reason enough. It’s not,’ she said.
‘The lack of youth voice and inclusion in the area was a big motivator [to run for council],’ Austin says.
According to a new report from The Australian National University (ANU), young, politically engaged Australians care passionately about key issues but don’t feel represented or listened to by political leaders.
Austin aims to change that and highlights the important role young people should have in politics.
‘I believe that young people should be able to have direct input into the plans, infrastructure, events and development that will directly impact them or that is said to be for them’, she said.
The first-time councillor has plans to raise youth involvement in the council.
‘First, I want to establish both a Youth, and Women’s advisory committee. We might not have a youth voice on council in 4, 10 or 15 yrs. That isn’t good enough. Young people also pay rates. There needs to be a permanent body that represents them’, she says.
‘In addition to this; a Women’s advisory committee. For the first time ever in Penrith City Council’s history we are going to have what looks like a woman majority. This is not the standard, but it is a very, very good opportunity. We need to invest in this’, Austin said.
Research by Plan International found that only 12% of young women would pursue a career in national politics. Austin’s notions could aid in uplifting women, especially young women, to get involved in politics.
‘These advisory bodies will only benefit the council as it will help us better represent our constituencies’, Austin said.
Austin is ready and excited to begin her term as councillor.
‘I believe that young people deserve a seat at the table, and it is up to us as young people to prove to others why’, she says.
